High school outlines five‑goal improvement plan emphasizing instruction, PLCs and career pathways

Principal Paul Branagan presented Middleborough High School’s school improvement plan and described five central goals the high school will pursue this year: strengthen instructional practices, expand professional learning communities (PLCs), use data for targeted interventions, redesign AP offerings and deepen career‑readiness pathways including internships and Innovative Pathways.

Branagan said the first goal — instructional practice — underpins the others, and highlighted curriculum pacing guides, active learning strategies and an instructional framework in active use across departments. He described a new emphasis on data that includes Star 360 pre‑tests and continued use of MCAS results to shape classroom instruction. "All of those sophomores qualified on the AP Chemistry test," Branagan said in describing a pilot that allowed sophomores into AP Chemistry and prompted the district to examine AP enrollment, readiness and outcomes.

He also described a move to regular PLC time embedded in the school day (about 40 sessions of meeting time over the year), an AP 'think tank' to review enrollment and success patterns, and efforts to revisit grading practices. Future Ready work — including a senior internship program and an Innovative Pathways designation in advanced manufacturing — aims to provide alternatives to four‑year college for roughly 40% of seniors who do not plan to pursue postsecondary education.

Branagan told the committee the school is preparing performance assessment benchmarks in advance of the district’s accreditation review next October and stressed that many initiatives are intentionally aligned to the district strategy for continuous improvement. He closed by inviting committee questions and noting the plan is active work rather than a finished product.